Tis the Season!

Tis the season - to do more bragging!

This time the kudos go to our staff. The bearded man in a red suit may be best known for carrying a large sack, but we have our own bag of tricks. Most of those goodies go to help our clients, but this season two staff members have pulled some other talents out of the bag and put them to use:

Nellesa, one of our GYROTONIC certified instructors, was featured in an ad for MasterCard Google Wallet. Watch her clips below:

 Anne, a member of our administrative staff, will be appearing on the ABC Family channel for six Sundays! Starting January 29, 2012 you can see and hear her sing in the 6:30 AM broadcast of St. Paul of the Cross's "The Sunday Mass."

As always, if you need the energy to chase after your charges or to push back from the season's feasting, come on in to the studio. Our instructors and staff (including Nellesa and Anne!) will be on hand to keep your holidays happy AND healthy.

Enjoy!

Trim the Tree and Your Waist this Season

Too many holiday parties? All those fancy pastries and yummy casseroles calling your name at every turn? We thought watching this little guy go through the paces might inspire you to stem the tide of impending holiday pounds. Dressing up like Santa may be great fun, but make sure you aren't mistaken for the real thing when next year rolls around! As you schedule your holiday parties, shopping outings, volunteer activities and the like, make sure to schedule time to keep your body in shape.  Put it on the 'to-do' list and check it twice. That naughty little number you want to wear for the New Year's celebration will look very nice, your stockings won't feel stuffed, and there'll be a little more joy in your world when "lose a few pounds" doesn't make it on the resolutions list!

Need more motivation?  Schedule a half hour session if you're running low on time. Invite a friend to join you. We are as helpful as Santa's elves all year round so come in for a session. You'll leave energized and ready for the season's merrymaking!

Feeling the Pressure?

Knees giving you trouble? Do they talk back when you climb the stairs. Do they squeak when you bend? Research has shown that normal activity puts five pounds of pressure on the knees for every extra pound of weight you carry. Do something exciting like work in the garden or go for a hike and that pressure can rise to eight pounds! Doing the math, carrying a modest ten pounds on your frame can make your knees really feel the pressure. Most of the studies have been done on knees, but Cleveland Clinic orthopaedic surgeon Wael Barsoum, MD thinks it's likely that hips and other joints also would be affected. Though many factors bring affect surgery considerations for his paitients, some have found considerable relief by just shedding some of the extra weight.

We, at Fluid Fitness, work with many clients who have had knee and hip pain, injury, surgery or even replacements. The GYROTONIC system helps mobilize your joints, increasing the range of articulation available to you. Clients experience decreased pain, increased mobility and, for those who have undergone surgery, consistent workouts aid recovery and maintenance.  You also work your whole body at Fluid Fitness, improving core strength, flexibility, alignment and coordination - all factors that keep your machine well-oiled and running smoothly.

If the resistance from your joints is slowing you down, have a chat with your physician. In the meantime, come to see us at to quiet some of the complaints down below. We can help you take a load off (your knees, that is). 

See you soon!

We have more exciting news from one of our regular clients! Iveta Lukosiute, a national and world champion in Latin ballroom dance, schedules regular GYROTONIC sessions at Fluid Fitness to keep her smooth moves competition-ready. Recently Iveta vied with contestants from all over the country for a spot on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance Season 8 and landed a coveted spot in the top 20 on popular TV show! These best of the best fly to Las Vegas and tape the show with weekly challenges and eliminations. Iveta and the other contestants work with renowned choreographers who test their technical and performance skills with different styles. A panel judges their performances and the viewing audience votes who will go forward in the competition. 

We are proud to see that Iveta made it past the first round of eliminations and though we may not see her on our TV screens in the coming weeks, we are more than happy to see her in person at the studio.

Congratulations, Iveta!

We can't say it often enough, taking time for yourself puts you at your best so you can take on the best. Come on in, we'll have performance-ready in no time!

Behind the Scenes

We often praise the accomplishments of our clients and the work our instructors do to keep you in tip-top shape. This time we turn the spotlight on our administrative staff. GYROTONIC practitioners themselves, they keep the studio running smoothly and also make news-worthy splashes of their own.

Gabriela Lee is a member of the staff that helps Fluid Fitness look good and she has three ventures of her own that can keep you looking good as well. She is a stylist for Style with Glee and Stella and Dot and an executive district manager for Arbonne.  Her work caught the attention of The Freelancer's Union who featured her in their Spring 2011 NYC subway campaign. They also interviewed her about being an entrepreneur; you can read the feature on their blog. Her knack for juggling responsibilities with grace, fearlessness and style are just a few of the reasons we are proud to have her on board.

Gabriela's undertakings are more proof that taking care of yourself prepares you take on the world. Check out her websites, your next visit to the studio can have you taking care with style!

We've Been Seeing Stars!

No, we didn't get bumped in the head, but we are a dazzled by the recent accomplishments of our clients.Yulia Zagoruychenko and Riccardo Cocchi were seen last week on the hit show Dancing with the Stars.

Last month this dynamic duo travelled to Moscow where they successfully defended their title as World Professional Ballroom Latin Champions!

These three-time U.S. Professional Champions work hard to keep themselves in tip top shape and GYROTONIC sessions are an important part of their training regimen. We've often said that regular sessions at Fluid Fitness can help you reach your goals. This couple shows that taking time out for your body will ready you to take on the world...and win! Congratulations, Yulia and Riccardo!

Want to do more star gazing? Click here to check out their website and here to see them do the Cha Cha at the World Super Stars Dance Festival last year.

Spring has Sprung!

So spring is finally here! Not to be outdone by the blossoming city outside, Fluid Fitness continues to create a buzz of activity at the studio. We maintain regular teacher trainings led by top GYROTONIC and health professionals - improving the skills of our staff and local GYROTONIC instructors. Those professionals also train and practice at the studio.

Earlier this year, Justine Bernard, a Master Trainer with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, presented a workshop at the studio on GYROTONIC Exercise and Osteoporosis. This month Goetz Lehle, MD returns from Italy and is available to our clients. His work in osteopathy, kinesiology, postural/movement analysis and orthomolecular medicine make him an incredibly insightful practitioner.

We are always doing our best to bring you the best. Don't forget your regular workouts as your agenda fills with spring responsibilities. You'll be glad you took a moment to exhale your scheduling worries. When you return to the cacophony outside you'll be relaxed and rejuvenated enough to really stop and smell all those roses.

Stand up Straight!

Those of you who are regular GYROTONIC practitioners know how you feel after a workout: longer, lighter, more relaxed, more awake, like a new person. Our instructors are a talented bunch, but what you are feeling isn't magic. The simultaneous strengthening and stretching exercises you perform in the GYROTONIC Expansion System result in a more aligned skeletal framework. In simplest terms, you improve your posture. Aside from looking taller and thinner and feeling longer and lighter, looks like Mom was right and good posture is important for your overall health.

Proper alignment allows muscles to work more efficiently, which means better endurance, strength, flexibility and decreased chance of injury. Good posture is also important for a healthy spine and nervous system. The nervous system controls most of the body's vital functions; keeping it free of impingement is paramount for overall health and function. Posture even impacts your breathing. Better ability to take full breaths means more oxygen to your heart and brain - allowing you to relax and think more clearly.

We do our best to set you straight while you're at the studio, but it's up to you to maintain the alignment lessons as you go about your day. Think about reaching through the crown of the head while you're sitting at your desk or carrying the groceries. Ever tried gentle narrowing of the pelvis while climbing the stairs? Are you breathing fully while writing that proposal? Do you keep a long spine and engaged core when lifting a heavy item off the floor? It only takes a little effort to maintain the postural alignment we help you find in your sessions. We want the best for our clients so at the risk of sounding like Mom...well, you get the idea.

Spotlight on Staff at Fluid Fitness

We often reference how hard the staff at Fluid Fitness works to help clients reach their goals. Today we have the pleasure of turning the spotlight directly on two of our instructors who were interviewed for the March issue of Dance-Teacher Magazine.

Hilary Cartwright, one of our Gryotonic Master Trainers, developed and teaches Yoga for Dancers. The article focuses on how this method challenges movers to find strength and control with little tension. A two-page step-by-step shows Hilary and Maiko, one of our regular clients, demonstrating some exercises for readers to try at home.

This issue also has great tips from Clarice Marshall on how instructors, who take such great care of their clients, can make sure they stay in tip-top shape.

The staff here is full of knowledge and expertise. Have some goals you'd like to reach? Come in and let our instructors get you in shape and ready to make news!

Our young clients have been making big strides!

We've had the pleasure of sharing Alison Stroming's successes in previous blogs. Last month she performed with ABT II at The Kennedy Center! We wish her many great performances as she tours as a guest with the company this year.

Daphne Fernberger recently shot a music video and appeared on a well-known televion series. It's little wonder that Spiegel Culture Online Magazine interviewed and filmed her for a January post. The article gives a glimpse of her life as a Juilliard student.

Gyrotonic sessions are an important part of the these ladies' rigorous schedules. They know firsthand the benefits of a regular Gyrotonic practice whether alone or in conjunction with another training program. We work individually with our clients to find the best way to help you reach your goals. Come on in, we'll be sharing your successes in no time!

Our Clients are En Pointe!

The new year is barely underway and already our clients are soaring successes. In these pages we have shared with you Skylar Brandt's steps on her road to a dance career. Today we'd like to announce her grande jete into a professional career as one of the newest members of American Ballet Theater! ABT is an internationally recognized ambassador of some of the best in American ballet. They travel the world and all 50 states showcasing a repertoire that includes works by choreographic heavy hitters as well as shining new talents.

We invite you to join us as we congratulate Skylar on this exciting new venture. Life as a professional dancer will provide a wonder of opportunities and challenges; and the staff at Fluid Fitness will be here to cheer her on and keep her instrument in tip top shape.

Need some fine-tuning yourself? Whether you are looking to fly across the stage or just complete an extra flight of stairs, we're here to help you. Come on in!